The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Organisation has donated $100,000 in grants to be awarded to a local Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) breast cancer consortium.

The organisation made the announcement during the relaunch of the Breast Cancer Programme on Wednesday.

Komen’s Chairman and CEO Nancy Brinker, who was on hand for the relaunch, said a three-time breast cancer survivor donated $50,000 in grants. Komen then matched that donation.

“This additional grant funding will accelerate provider training and public education awareness efforts,” said Mrs. Brinker. “We will be working with our partners in the country to determine how best these funds will be allocated.”

The Komen Organisation, which is represented in more than 30 countries around the world, is partnering with local governmental and non-governmental cancer organisations in the fight against breast cancer.

Mrs. Brinker, who began the Komen Organisation following the death of her sister Susan G. Komen 30-years ago encouraged local organisations to do all they can to aid in the fight against the disease.

“I don’t know where and when it will happen to each of you and it probably has [happened] to many of you, but as we progress with this programme all of you – even members of your government and members of your private sector – a woman will walk up one day or her family will walk up to you one day and say thank you for saving my life,” Mrs. Brinker said.

The Ministry of Health has partnered with Komen and a number of local organisations, including Sunshine Insurance Marathon Bahamas, Sister Sister Support Group and the Cancer Association of Grand Bahama to re-launch the Breast Cancer Programme.

“This partnership brings to us the ability to be involved with a programme whose goal is increasingly early detection of breast cancer and reducing mortality through improved awareness, increased clinical resources and treatments and research,” said Health Minister Dr. Perry Gomez.

Mrs. Brinker said the grant programme will be lead and implemented by Sister Sister Support Group in collaboration with the Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) Foundation and the Cancer Association of Grand Bahama.

She noted that it is also supported by the Ministry of Health, Marathon Bahamas, One Eleuthera and the wider community.

Marathon Bahamas will hold its cancer fundraiser Race Weekend 2013 from January 19 to January 20, 2013.